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On'yomi
メイ
MEI
Kun'yomi
な.く・な.る・な.らす
naku / naru / narasu

chirp · cry · bark · sound · ring · echo · honk

spiritual

Details

Strokes14
Frequency#1279
Radicalbird(11)

Stroke Order

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Strokes14

Component Breakdown

=

mouth + bird

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of mouth and bird. Bird singing with mouth.

Symbolism

Chirp, ring, scream. Represents crying.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Arrival of spring

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

百家争鳴

ひゃっかそうめい

let a hundred schools of thought contend; let a hundred schools of thought contend

鶏鳴狗盗

けいめいくとう

person who resorts to petty tricks; person of small caliber who is only capable of petty tricks; person who resorts to petty tricks

大山鳴動

たいざんめいどう

big fuss over nothing; much cry and little wool; much ado about nothing; big fuss over nothing

蛙鳴蝉噪

あめいせんそう

annoying noise; fruitless argument; useless controversy; annoying noise

Poetry

和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

奥山に もみぢ踏み分け 鳴く鹿の 声聞く時ぞ 秋は悲しき

Poem #5 from Hyakunin Isshu

猿丸大夫Sarumaru Dayū
9th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

淡路島 かよふ千鳥の 鳴く声に 幾夜ねざめぬ 須磨の関守

Poem #78 from Hyakunin Isshu

源兼昌源兼昌
Unknown
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

ほととぎす 鳴きつる方を ながむれば ただありあけの 月ぞ残れる

Poem #81 from Hyakunin Isshu

後徳大寺左大臣Go-Tokudaiji no Sadaijin
12th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

世の中よ 道こそなけれ 思ひ入る 山の奥にも 鹿ぞ鳴くなる

Poem #83 from Hyakunin Isshu

皇太后宮大夫俊成Kōtaigōgū no Daibu Toshinari
12th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

きりぎりす 鳴くや霜夜の さむしろに 衣かたしき ひとりかも寝む

Poem #91 from Hyakunin Isshu

後京極摂政前太政大臣Go-Kyōgoku Sesshō Saki no Daijō-daijin
13th century